I did a monumentally stupid thing

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Pamela

Whatever you do, choose from a dog rescue or the local SPCA or the like; do NOT buy from a breeder or the classifieds or Craigslist.

Personal experience talking here. Also, a Shih Tzu or Lhasa Apso is a good choice. Adorable, small, cheap to feed and not a lot of exercise needed. I would recommend a boxer due to very short hair, not much dander and very child-friendly, but the slobber and energy to burn might overtax you. And the poop. That too.

Not to diss rescue dogs in any way - Mum took on a dog from a rescue organisation and she's wonderful - but I have to add some balance:

My own experience of buying from breeders is very positive. Both my beardies have been bought direct from the breeder. You just need to do the research and be aware of potential pitfalls.

there are potential pitfalls - but that also goes for rescue dogs. The problem with rescue dogs though is that if you take a dog on and then have to give it back you are potentially traumatising that dog who may go through several potential homes before being taken on for real - each time they go off to a prospective new family and then get sent back the dog's confidence takes another deep hit and makes it more likely they will have separation anxiety or other issues that wil make it less likely they will be able to successfully integrate into the nxt family.

As for boxer: they have short hair but they moult. If allergies are a problem stick to double coated dogs, and preferably poodle type dogs.

warning note: poodle mixes are often sold as hypoallergenic but there is no guarantee that the pups of a poodle and other breed will have the poodle's hypoallergenic fur. You have to be very careful with the '-doodles' if that's your reason for buying them. make sure if you're going that route that you go for a line that has stabilised (third or fourth generation) with hypoallergenic fur.